Just in time for its upcoming move to an as-of-yet undisclosed location, Stratford Summer Music will receive $46,000 in operating funds through the Ontario Arts Council this year.

On Monday, Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece announced the much-beloved annual music festival was selected as one of 50 theatre and music organizations across the province that will receive annual operating grants beginning this year.

“The arts played a major role in the history and economic development of Perth-Wellington,” Pettapiece said in a press release. “Our government understands how valuable culture is to the lives and communities of Ontarians. This funding will ensure Stratford Summer Music continues to have a positive impact on our community and draw visitors to our riding.”

The extra operating funds came just in the nick of time, as Stratford Summer Music staff finalize a lease agreement for a new office. According to general manager Judy Matheson, the organization has to leave its current office – on the second floor of 25 Ontario St. – because the owner, Scotiabank, has sold the building after providing space for the six-week-long music festival free of charge over the past 18 years.

“It means we can continue to do the work we’re doing, and continue to bring in the quality of artists and the variety of artists we’ve been bringing in. And of course, this goes to paying for some of the administrative costs and operational expenses that a festival has to deal with,” Matheson said. “And new for us is going to be rent because we’re going to be moving our offices. … We’re going to look at a smaller space because this (office) is pretty luxurious for us. We’re going to look at a space that suits our needs year round.”

Matheson said the grant will continue at the same or a slightly increased level, depending on the provincial budget, over the next three years, provided the organization meets the criteria set out in the funding agreement and maintains its priority ranking within the program.

In total, Ontario is investing $2.2 million in its 2019 round of operating grants for theatre and music organizations, with the goal of maximizing the positive impacts art and music have in communities across the province.

“Ontario’s government working for the people understands how valuable culture is to the lives and communities of people across the province,” said Michael Tibollo, minister of tourism, culture, and sport, in a press release. “Our local theatre and music organizations boost prosperity and encourage cultural tourism, and I’m pleased that through these grants they’ll have the resources they need to continue this great work.”

The Ontario Arts Council is the primary funder of the professional non-profit arts sector. Peer assessors evaluate applications submitted for operating grants and recipients are chosen from a large, diverse pool of artists, arts administrators and arts volunteers from communities across Ontario.